THE Boomerang Park Action Group (BPAG) has been buoyed by last week's Land and Environment Court decision to overrule development on Newcastle's historic King Edward Park.
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After the ruling, Friends of King Edward Park president Kim Ostinga said "the case will have ramifications for public land across the state".
Jillian Lye, a spokeswoman for BPAG, said the Raymond Terrace group had maintained a keen interest in the five-year King Edward Park dispute.
"There are a lot of similarities with their case as they have a prime piece of public land in the centre of town with potential views across the Hunter Valley," Ms Lye said.
"It is a great outcome to those who stood up and questioned that something was not quite right about a private development on such a significant site set aside for public recreation."
Port Stephens Council is proposing to rezone a part of the heritage-listed Boomerang Park for private development featuring senior housing and community facilities.
"We are not asking for the 'Mercedes' of parks - all we want is for the park to be maintained, a few picnic tables, garbage bins, barbecue.
"When we receive additional grants, we can fund other projects bit by bit."
Ms Lye said that BPAG members would travel to Sydney to meet with Planning Minister Rob Stokes in the coming weeks to voice their concerns at the council's push to rezone portions of Boomerang Park.
"We want a guarantee that it will be maintained as a public park for public recreation for future generations."
